ojibwaysweetie

I agree with Maaji.

Depends on the powwow you dance at. The powwows out east and west of me tend to judge the contemporary jingle dress dancers over the old stylers. The powwows near to my area tend to favour the old style. Flat foot when side stepping, and smaller, more traditional steps, no fan, no large plumes. The dress more plain with lovely floral simple beadwork. Keeping it very real!

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Jack1e

yes, they should be seperate.

a_buck

I'm for seperating. But then I thought about it and came to a silly thought. Once seperate, would that give the go-ahead to the contemps to be super contemp. Where would it stop. I mean essentially if your dancing in a contemp category, the purpose is to be contemp. Maybe the ol stylers keep a cap on the contemps from being Super-contemps? I'm from the great lakes but live out west now. Other than the southwest, it doesn't get no more contemp out here. I love watching the canucks come down to the states and role model how to be contemporary but graceful or ol style and acknowlegable (Totally over classifying..not just canucks). You don't have to kick a judge in the eye or spin in a circle so fast you show thigh to get some judge attention. So ultimately, if I had to choose, I'd say seperate at the bigger pdubs and keep em together at the smaller ones. At the bigger ones, judges should know the difference and can decide on their preference rather than ignorance to the style or being misinformed.

3StarsWoman

I agree with A Buck, there needs to be a separation. And I agree that the contemps may become super contemps, hopefully without capes and masks - just kidding. There has been some toning down of colors in dresses, but what's up with the shells and resin/bone elk teeth? The cloth category will say hey, you stole my look and the fancy shawl will say hey, you stole my moves - OK, i'm really just kidding. There has been great discussion on this thread.

Cherryabbey

Oh yes. they need to be seperated for sure

gurskea

This has also been buggin me for the longest time as well. I thnk they should be separated totally. I've seen that the judges at powwos that don't separate that category, tend to look at the contemp.
Heres my 2-cents on the old style competetion. I dance ol style, but I do it a little different. I have been taught that I can wear a plume on the side and carry a fan but now raise it. Now at contest, they are like no fans/feathers. I'm sorry but I'm not going to change what I have been taught for a silly contest to see who can be more tradish. To be quite honest, I don't even think they should have this category at powwows. I've seen people change what they beleive in for a contest like that and it is really too bad.

TenaciousJen

HECK YEAH!! old style is the way LU LU LU. lol. contemporary looks crazy alongside a old styler jammin out. like water and oil, just doesn't mix.